THE FOUNDATION

PHILOSOPHY

Since 1985, the Fondation Aide aux Enfants has devoted itself to improving of the lives of the poorest citizens of Colombia. The Foundation’s “Bambi” homes take in children between 0 and 6 years of age who live in extreme situations in order to give them back their physical and psychological balance. At the same time, the Foundation takes care of a central family problem by helping these children’s parents to become financially autonomous on a long term basis through its professional training program PROMEFA.

HISTORY

The first Bambi home was opened in 1985, at the initiative of Dr. Rupert Spillmann. While he was working on a tropical disease study in Cali, Columbia, he was struck by the lack of pre-school institutions for children living in slums and decided to create the first home. From Geneva, his cousin, Hans Rudi Spillmann has ensured the continuity of this project as President of the Foundation Aide aux Enfants, created in 1989.

MISSION STATEMENT

According to official numbers, there are 5 million children under the age of 5 in Colombia. Fifty-six percent of them live below the poverty line. It is our mission to provide vital support to underprivileged children, to strengthen their parent's socio-economic stability and to find sustainable solutions for the future.

FINANCING

40% of the Bambi Homes' finances come from Switzerland, the other 60% from Colombia. Private donors, companies, foundations, cities cantons and communities give financial support to our programs. Fundraising is centralized in Geneva, with the exception of the Darién home.

BAMBI HOMES

OUR ACTIVITIES

So far, about 16’300 children were taken into the Foundation’s four “Bambi” homes located in Bogota, Cali, Medellin, and Darien Valle. Thanks to the PROMEFA program,more than 4’200 mothers and fathers have succeeded in building a better future.